Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, unveiled Australia’s first Community Battery in a commissioning ceremony at Kendall Park, Cabarita on Friday 8 September. Minister Bowen was accompanied by Federal Member for Reid, Sally Sitou, and representatives from Ausgrid, and the event was witnessed by members of Climate Action Burwood-Canada Bay (CABCB), Canada Bay Zero Carbon Community (CBZCC), and Inner West Community Energy (IWCE).
This is the first of 400 such batteries to be rolled out by the federal government as part of its Community Batteries for Household Solar program in its quest to transform the electricity grid in Australia. The 412 kilowatt hour battery is expected to store power from fifty local rooftop solar arrays, and share it with 150 households.
CABCB and the Canada Bay Zero Carbon Community have been strong supporters of this project from the very outset, first announced by Bowen as part of a Labor Party election pledge in April 2022.
Further reading:
Media release by Chris Bowen and Sally Sitou
“Bowen switches on first of 400 solar soaking community batteries” (Renew Economy)
